The Malta Stock Exchange index continued to advance yesterday, climbing another 23 points, to close at the 3491.670 level.

Bank of Valletta plc shares climbed 4c, or 1.1 per cent during the session, to close at €3.700 in 28 deals for a total of 37,019 shares.

HSBC Bank Malta plc shares, meanwhile, also gained, adding 3c, or one per cent to its stock price during the day, and closing at €2.910 on 22,032 shares across 16 deals.

Also in the banking sector, FimBank plc witnessed 1,665 of its shares exchange hands in a single deal to see it close unchanged at US$0.940.

The biggest mover in the day were the shares of Middlesea Insurance plc, which gained 2c,or two per cent, to close at €1.020 in two deals for a total of 791 shares.

Also advancing were shares of Plaza Centres plc, which, in a single deal of 1,000 shares, advanced 2c, or 1.2 per cent, to end the day at €1.720.

The final gainer in the session were the shares of Go plc, which added a marginal 0c4, or 0.2 per cent, to close at €1.889 on volume of 7,200 shares across five deals.

Also trading in the day yet failing to register a change in their closing prices were shares of International Hotel Investments plc, Loqus Holdings plc, and Malta International Airport plc, which closed at €0.770, €0.180 and €1.600 respectively. Simonds Farsons Cisk also closed unchanged at €1.750 on volume of 1,195 shares across two deals.

The week ahead - Economic indicators for week starting November 15

In the United States, a wealth of economic data will be released throughout this week. The biggest attraction for today will be the industrial production figures for October.

Following a month-on-month decline of 0.2 per cent in September, production is projected to increase by 0.3 per cent in October.

Meanwhile, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for October is also expected to increase by 0.8 per cent from 0.4 per cent a month earlier. Other figures include the Consumer Price Index (CPI), data of leading indicators, as well as the Philadelphia Fed Index. Due to a strong rise in fuel prices, consumer prices are expected to increase by a monthly 0.3 per cent in October, up from their previous 0.1 per cent a month earlier.

In the eurozone, the German-based ZEW survey of economic sentiment is expected to increase to a reading of 2 in November from its previous 1.8 in October. Meanwhile, consumer prices are also expected to rise by 0.3 per cent in October, from a prior gain of 0.2 per cent in September. The main topic for the markets will continue to be dominated by news concerning the insolvency of some eurozone members, which reached a tentative high point in recent days.

In the United Kingdom, the unemployment rate for the three month period ending September, is expected to remain unchanged at 7.7 per cent. Meanwhile, retail sales, excluding fuel, are projected to have increased by a monthly 0.2 per cent in October, when during the prior month they registered no change. Finally, annual CPI figures are expected to have remained unchanged at 3.1 per cent in October.

This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. (the Bank), which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA, for your general information only. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice by the Bank. Appropriate advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of your investments may fall or rise.